Adjustable chaise longue



Aug. 12, 1958 M. PEARLSTINE ADJUSTABLE CHAISE LONGUE Original Filed June 21, 1955 E 4 m ms m R O M H 7'TORl/E Y r 2,847,060 Patented Aug. 12, 1

ADJUSTABLE CHAISE LONGUE Morton Pearlstine, Cynwyd, Pa., assignor to The Bunting Company, lno, lhiladelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Continuation of application Serial No. 516,920, June 21, 1955. This application June '11, 1957, Serial No. 665,018

Claims. (Cl. 155-159) This invention relates generally to chairs and is concerned particularly with a type of chair known as a chaise longue, this application being a continuation of a prior copending application, Serial No. 516,920, filed June 21, 1955, now abandoned.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved chaise longue that may be adjusted by occup'ant to any one of a plurality of diflerent reclining positions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a chaise longue with improved arm rest organizations that operate to constantly urge the back rest toward an'upright position and to secure the same in any one of a plurality of diiferent reclining positions with extreme facility.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide such a chaise longue wherein the means for urging the back rest toward an upright position and securing the same in a selected reclining position are concealed within the arm rests.

And still another object of the present invention is to provide such a chaise longue with a pair of improved side rails respectively underlying and supporting the fore end portions of said arm rests without interfering with fore and aft and vertical angular shifting movement of the arm rests freely in response to movement of the back rest.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully hereinafter, it being understood that the invention consists substantially in the combination, construction, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as described in detail hereinafter, as shown in the accompanying drawings and as finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates a chaise longue constructed in accordance with and embodying the general principles of the present invention;

Figure l is a perspective view of a chaise longue embodying the present invention, showing the back rest in its upright position;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the chaise longue shown in Figure l, the extreme reclining position of the back rest and the corresponding position of the arm rests being shown in broken lines;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section through an arm rest showing the arm rest partially raised and the back rest secured in its upright position;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section through the arm rest shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged section on line 6-6 of Figure 2.

The chaise longue of the present invention comprises a main cushion supporting frame 10 that has a horizontally extending member 11 which preferably but not necessarily is U-shaped and disposed with the closed end at the foot and the open end at the rear of the longue. The member 11 is preferably L-shaped in transverse sec-' tion having a vertically disposed flange 12 terminating in a horizontally disposed flange 13. Preferably, the rear end portions of the opposite flanges 13-13 are interconnected by a cross bar 14' (see Figure 6). Extending across the member 11 substantially in the plane of the flanges 13 thereof are laterally spaced bars 14 which together with said flanges 13 serve to support upon the member 11 a suitable cushion (not shown).

7 For supporting the horizontally extending member 11 at a suitable height from the floor, the main frame 10 is fitted with a pair of tubular metal side rails 15-15 that sweep forwardly and downwardly from the foot of the fore end of the member 11 to the floor, then rearwardly and upwardly beyond the member 11 to arm rest height and finally rearwardly and downwardly again. beyond the member 11 to a pair of conventionally mounted floor engaging wheels 16-16, being secured to the member 11 as at the points 17, 18 and 19. The side rails 15-15 are bracingly interconnected by a cross bar 20.

The back rest of the chaise longue, designated generally by the numeral 21, includes a cushion-supporting member 22 preferably in the form of an inverted U-shaped frame. In transverse cross section, the member 22 is L-shaped having one flange 23 extending from the front to the-underside of the back rest normal to the plane thereof and another flange 24 extending inwardly parallel to the plane of the back rest. Extending lengthwise of the back rest in the plane of the flange 24 thereof are a plurality of laterally spaced cushionsupporting bars 26 the upper ends of which are secured to the top section of the back rest while their lower ends are secured to a suitable cross bar 25 (see Figure 6) extending crosswise between the lower end portions of the side sections of the back rest. The bottom of the back rest 21 is fitted intothe open rear end ofthe horizontally extending U-shaped member 11, to which it is pivotally mounted, as by pivot bolts 19a respectively located at the points 19, for vertical swinging movement. It will .be noted that the pivot bolts 19a serve not only to swingably mount the back rest 21 upon the rear end of the horizontally disposed frame 10, but also to secure the opposite tubular metal supporting rails 15-15 to said frame 10. If desired, however, the rearwardly extending portions of the rails 15-15 may be fixedly secured to the frame 10 at points removed from and independently of the pivot bolts 1911.

On each side of the chaise longue is a unitary arm rest assembly 27 that extends forwardly from the back rest 21 for support upon the side rail 15. Each assembly includes an elongated rigid member 28 that is of inverted U-shape in transverse cross section. The opposite side flanges 23-23 of the back rest member 22 are each fitted with a laterally extending pivot bolt 29 that projects outwardly therefrom and through the side walls of the plate member 28 designated 30-30. Corresponding portions of the latter are each provided with a longitudinally extending elongated slot 31 having in its upper edge a series of longitudinally spaced notches 32 forming a series of downwardly presenting detents therebetween. The side rail knee bend, designated 33, is disposed between the side walls 30-30 of the channeled member 28, which latter member is in turn seated upon the side rail knee bend 33 and is secured thereto by a pin 34 that extends laterally through the side rail knee bend 33 and projects in opposite directions through the slots 31-31 aforesaid of the channel member 28. Threaded on the pin-34 are a pair of nuts 35-35 each of which has a head 36 and a neck 37, which latter is received in one of the recesses 32, the clear distance between the heads 36-36 being slightly greater than the overall width of the plate member 28 to assure freedom of movement .of the. pin 34 in the slots 31-31 aforesaid.

The arm rest assembly additionally includes a tension spring 38 underlying the base wall of the channel member 28. The fore end of the tension spring 38 is anchored to the side rail knee bend 33, as at 40, and the tension spring extends rearwardly from this point of anchorage to a pin 41. The rear end of the tension spring 38 is anchored to the pin 41, which extends across the channel member 28 a short distance in advance of the pivot bolt 29, the opposite ends thereof being secured respectively to the side walls 30-30 of the channel member 28. The point of anchorage 40 is preferably located below the plane common to the axes of the pivot bolt 29 and the pin 41 so that the member 28 is constantly biased downwardly into firm engagement with the side rail knee bend 33 It will be understood, of course, that other specific locations of the points of anchorage 40-40 and of the pins 41-41 are possible, it being necessary merely that these points of anchorage and pins be located so that the tension springs 38-38 act upon the member 28 in the manner aforesaid.

The arm rest assembly further includes a second elongated rigid member 42 that is also of inverted U-shape in tranverse cross section and is disposed in covering relation to the channel member 28, the pivot bolt 29 aforesaid projecting beyond the opposite side walls of the member 28 through the side walls 43-43 of the external channel member 42. The fore end of the outer member 42 extends beyond the corresponding end of the inner member 28 and is capped with a cover plate 44. Normally, the fore end of the member 42 rests upon the fore end of the member 28 and so is restrained against downward movement relatively to the latter, while disposed in underlying spaced relation with respect to the member 28 is a fiat strap, designated 45, that extends between the side walls 43-43 of the channel member 42 to limit upward movement thereof relatively to the member 28.

In order to change the position of the back rest 21 from the upright position shown by full lines in Figures 1 and 2 to one of the reclining positions shown by broken lines in Figure 2, the occupant of the chaise longue first raises the channel members 42-42 of the arm rest assemblies. Initial upward swinging movement thereof raises the fore end of the base wall of each said member 42 above the fore end of the base wall 39 of the underlying member 28 and brings the fiat strap member 45 into engagement with the bottom of the member 28, as shown in Figure 3. Upon further upward swinging movement of the members 42-42 the members 28-28 are swung upwardly about the pivot pins 29-29 and thereby effect disengagement of the detent pins 34-34 from the notches 32 in which they were seated.

The occupant next leans back against the back rest 21 and causes the back rest to swing rearwardly and downwardly against the force of the tension springs 38-38. Simultaneously the nested channel members 28 and 42 conjointly shift rearwardly relative to the main frame and to the pins 34-34, during which operation the latter pins ride freely over the detents immediately in advance of the notches 32-32 from which the pins 34-34 have been disengaged. When the next set of notches assume a position over the detent pins 34-34, the inner channel members 28-28 automatically swing downwardly under the biasing influence of the tension springs 38-38 to effect re-engagement of the pins with their newly alined notches.

This procedure may be repeated until the back rest is in the desired reclining position. Alternately, instead of adjusting the back rest 21 by stages, the occupant may keep the channel members 42-42 of the arm rest as semblies fully raised until the back rest is in the desired reclining position, whereupon he releases the same, thus allowing the channel members 28-28 to swing downwardly for engagement of the detentpins 34-34 with any selected pair of notches 32-32. In order to again raise the back rest 21 to its initial upright position, the procedures just outlined are reversed. In this connection, it will be noted that when the back rest is released, it automatically follows the occupants back as it inclines forwardly.

It will be noted that the knee bends 33-33 that are formed respectively in the tubular metal side rails 15-15 are of inverted V-shape. Referring particularly to Figure 3, when the back rest is erect, the apices or crowns of the knee bends are located approximately midway between the back rest and the fore ends of the arm rest assemblies. The apex or crown of each bend aforesaid is a tubular portion that is rounded to a short radius, and the branches of the bend are tubular portions that fall away sharply in opposite directions from the apex or crown portion of the knee bend and the overlying arm rest assembly.

Referring particularly to Figure 2, when the back rest is lowered, the arm rest assemblies not only shift rearwardly respectively over the knee bends 33-33, but they also swing downwardly through a substantial angular distance depending upon the distance through which the back rest is lowered. It will be noted that the branches of the knee bends 33-33 are so inclined that they present no obstruction to the arm rest assemblies throughout the range of the latters movement in response to movement of the back rest. Preferably, the branches of the knee bends to the rear of the apex or crown portions of the knee bends are bowed downwardly slightly relative to the plane containing the axes of the pins 34-34 and the wheels 16-16v Referring particularly to Figure 3, the tension springs 38-38 are fully housed respectively within the channel members 31-31, and it will be noted that these tension springs remain thus housed throughout the range of movement of the arm rest assemblies in response to movement of the back rest.

It will be understood, of course, that the present invention as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings is susceptible of various changes and modifications which may be made from time to time without departing from the general principles or real spirit of the invention, and accordingly, it is intended to claim the same broadly, as well as specifically, as indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A chaise longue comprising a horizontally extending seat and leg rest main frame including a pair of longitudinally extending ground engaging opposite side rails for supporting said main frame, a back rest pivotally mounted upon said main frame, and a pair of arm rest assemblies pivotally secured to said back rest and respectively seated upon and releasably latched to said side rails for securing said back rest in a selected one of a number of different reclining positions, said side rails each having a raised intermediate portion of generally inverted V-shape disposed with the apex of the V immediately beneath an associated arm rest assembly at a point located between the opposite ends of said assembly, said arm rest assemblies being shiftable rearwardly and the aft ends thereof being swingable downwardly in response to swinging movement of said back rest rearwardly and downwardly, the rearwardly extending branches of said inverted V-shaped portions of the side rails being sharply inclined downwardly from the apices thereof to provide clearance for free swinging movement of said arm assemblies relatively to said side rails in response to the back rest swinging movement aforesaid, an elongated latching member provided in each of said arm assemblies as a part thereof, said latching member being shiftable in the vertical plane of the side rail immediately associated therewith and having a series of enlarged openings interconnected by a continuous slot extending length wise of the latching member, and a latching pin fixed to each side rail substantially at the apex of said raised intermediate portion thereof for interlocking engagement With any selected one of said openings, said spring means being operative to normally bias said back rest member forwardly into substantially upright position and to shift said arm assemblies longitudinally forward along their associated supporting side rails.

2. A chaise longue comprising a horizontally extending seat and leg rest main frame including a pair of longitudinally extending ground engaging opposite side rails for supporting said main frame, a back rest pivotally mounted upon said main frame, and a pair of arm rest assemblies pivotally secured to said back rest and re spectively seated upon and releasably latched to said side rails for securing said back rest in a selected one of a number of different reclining positions, said arm rest assemblies each including a longitudinally extending member having a series of open-ended notches spaced lengthwise thereof with their open ends presenting downwardly, said side rails each having a raised intermediate portion of generally inverted V-shape disposed with the apex of the V immediately beneath an associated arm rest assembly at a point located between the opposite ends of said assembly, and a latching pin fixed to and projecting laterally of said inverted V-shaped portion of the side rail at the apex thereof for seating in a selected one of said notches, and means operative to bias said back rest member forwardly with respect to said main frame and to simultaneously bias said arm rest assemblies toward said side rails whereby to automatically effect interlocking engagement between said latching pin and one of said notches presented in registry with the pin for a selected position of the back rest.

3. A chaise longue comprising a horizontally extending seat and leg rest main frame including a pair of longitudinally extending ground engaging opposite side rails for supporting said main frame, a back rest pivotally mounted upon said main frame, a pair of arm rest assemblies pivotally secured to said back rest and respectively seated upon and latched to said side rails for securing said back rest in a selected one of a number of different reclining positions, said arm rest assemblies each including a downwardly presenting channel member, a pair of tension springs operative to bias said back rest forwardly of the longue simultaneously as said arm rests shift forwardly along said side rails, said side rails being each provided with an inverted V-shaped intermediate portion extending upwardly between the opposite side walls of said channel at a point located between the opposite ends of the arm rest assembly, said arm rest assemblies being shiftable rearwardly and the aft ends thereof being swingable downwardly in response to swinging movement of said back rest rearwardly and downwardly against the influence of said tension springs, the rearwardly extending branches of said inverted V-shaped portions of the side rails being sharply inclined downwardly to provide clearance for free movement of said arm rest assemblies relatively to said side rails in response to the swinging movement aforesaid of said back rest, said tension springs being each in the form of elongated coiled springs having their opposite ends respectively secured to a side rail adjacent the apex of the V-shaped portion thereof and to the associated arm rest assembly in the immediate region of its pivotal securement to the back rest, each of said arm rest assemblies including an elongated member disposed within and wholly embraced by said channel member, said latching member having a series of notches interconnected by a continuous slot, and a latching pin fixed to said side rail adjacent the apex thereof for selective interlocking engagement with any one of said notches of said latching members.

4. A chaise longue comprising a horizontally extending seat and leg rest main frame including a pair of longitudinally extending ground engaging opposite side rails for supporting said main frame, a back rest pivotally mounted upon said main frame, a pair of arm rest assemblies pivotally secured to said back rest and respectively seated upon and latched to said side rails for securing said back rest in a selected one of a number of different reclining positions, a pair of tension springs operating to bias said back rest forwardly and to simultantously bias said arm rests downwardly, said arm rest assembly each including a channel member having opposite side walls depending from a base wall, said side rails being each provided with an inverted V-shaped intermediate portion extending upwardly between the side walls of the associated channel member aforesaid at a point located between the opposite ends of the arm rest assembly, said arm rest assemblies being shiftable rearwardly and the aft ends thereof being swingable downwardly in response to swinging movement of said back rest rearwardly and downwardly against the influence of said tension springs, the rearwardly extending branches of said inverted V-shaped portions of the side rails being sharply inclined downwardly to provide clearance for free movement of said arm rest assemblies relative to said side rails in response to the back rest swinging movement aforesaid, said tension springs being secured by their fore ends respectively to said inverted V-shaped portions of the side rails, proximate the tops thereof, and being extended rearwardly with their rear ends fixed at points closely adjacent the pivotal connections between said arm rest assemblies and said back rest, each of said arm rest assemblies including an elongated latching member disposed within and wholly embraced by said channel member, said latching member having a series of detent seats interconnected by a continuous slot, and a latching detent fixed to each side rail for selective interlocking engagement with any one of said detent seats.

5. In a chaise longue as defined in claim 4 wherein said detent seats consist of a series of open-ended notches provided in and spaced lengthwise of the side walls of the arm rest assembly channel members and wherein the latching detents respectively project laterally of the inverted V-shaped portions of the side rails substantially at the apices thereof and are axially alined with one another.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,690,793 Pederson et al. Oct. 5, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,847,060 August 12, 1958 Morton Pearlstine It is hereby certified that error appears in the-printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 5, line 2, for "said", second occurrence, read and line 3, before "operative" strike out "being"; column 6, line 4, before "member" insert latching Signed and sealed this 8th day of March 1960,

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL H. AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Ofiicer Commissioner of Patents 

